Greek meteorologists warn of worst heat wave of decade

People cool themselves down at a beach in Athens, Greece on June 25, 2017. With the mercury rising up to 37 degrees Celsius in the mainland on Sunday, Greek meteorologists warned that Greece may be hit by the worst heat wave of the past decade by next weekend. Photo Xinhua.

With the mercury rising up to 37 degrees Celsius in the mainland on Sunday, Greek meteorologists warned that Greece may be hit by the worst heat wave of the past decade by next weekend.

According to an announcement by the national weather service EMY, by Wednesday the temperatures will gradually rise to 39 degrees Celsius in the mainland and surpass 40 degrees from Thursday.

It will be the first heat wave in Greece this summer and, according to experts, maybe the worst since 2007.

The heat wave from northern Africa which is already sweeping through Europe may send the mercury rising in Greece by next weekend up to 43 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country, according to meteorologist Yannis Kallianos.

In June 2007, temperature hit a record high of 46.5 degrees Celsius in Greek city of Elefsina, some 20 km southwest of Athens, the Greek expert noted on his social media account.